Omani Long-combed Deathstalker — Fact Sheet
Leiurus macroctenus · Omani Long-combed Deathstalker
📋 At a glance
| Adult size | 6.1–8.8 cm |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Subspecies | No captive-care subspecies split |
| Origin | The verified native range is Oman only: central and north-eastern coastal areas, Masirah Island, Jiddat al Harasis and adjoining south-central plains, at roughly 2–800 m in the revision. It occupies fine sandy or alluvial ground near outcrops and digs burrows; intensive sampling did not support a broad Wahiba or Rub al Khali distribution. |
| Activity | Nocturnal |
| Difficulty | Expert |
| Legal | CITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local venomous-animal rules still apply |
🏠 Enclosure
- Compact 15 cm of roughly three parts fine washed sand to one part mineral loam, adding only enough clay to hold a test tunnel. Start a sloping burrow beneath a firmly based cork or stone lip; keep heavy decor on the base. Loose pure sand that avalanches is unsuitable, as is gravel too coarse for the vibration-sensing and digging behaviour documented in the revision.
- One adult needs a 30 × 25 × 25 cm primary enclosure with 15 cm of burrow-holding substrate, inside a second locked room or cabinet. Secure fine metal vents and every cable entry with fixed hardware. Quarantine in a simple tub for 90 days, using dedicated long forceps; establish feeding and hydration before offering a deep tunnel that conceals the whole animal.
🌡️ Temperature
- Warm surface: 31–33 °C
- Day air: 26–30 °C
- Cool zone: 22–25 °C
- Night: 20–24 °C
🪳 Feeding
- Offer one suitable captive-bred roach or cricket every 7–14 days on the open sand after dark. A laboratory colony accepted one Shelfordella lateralis weekly, but individual cadence should follow abdomen condition. Record where prey was placed, remove it the next morning and never excavate by hand to check whether it was eaten.
🩺 Health — warning signs
- Collapsing loose sand can trap the scorpion and makes safe recovery difficult.
- A deep burrow can lead to a false empty count during cleaning or transfer.
- Spray directed over fine sand creates eye exposure and a wet unstable tunnel.
- A sting requires immediate emergency or poison-centre contact; do not use a tourniquet, cut the site or drive yourself.